Strauss does not agree with comments made by England coach Andy Flower that the series had been "devalued".

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But opening a series of glossy gastropubs and flower markets doesn't change the fact that three of the five official Olympic boroughs (Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets) are among Britain's poorest districts -- a fact which became painfully clear during last summer's riots.

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Although England lost the Test series 1-0 they then won their first one-day series win in the Caribbean and Flower's good relationship with Strauss has helped to make him the leading candidate for the permanent role.

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But it was the wicket of Zimbabwe skipper Andy Flower, who scored 86, 74 and 129 in the series, that Sri Lanka prize the most, and he caught at slip by Russel Arnold for just 14 off Vaas.

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